Taking leadership back to the bush

FOR Goondiwindi's Julia Telford, taking part in the Queensland Leadership program was an once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Miss Telford, who is Border Rivers Catchment team co-ordinator for the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee, was one of 22 participants who took part in the most recent program.

"It was just one of those things that stood out to me as something that I was interested in," Miss Telford said.

"I had done a few rural leadership-type courses so I had toyed with the idea.

"It wasn't just rural focused but also looked at social leadership so it's not just for rural people."

Miss Telford said she thought she "didn't have a hope" but after various rounds of interviews, she was accepted with a scholarship from the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation.

"It's not about how many degrees you have or your job title.

"It's about who you are as a person they look at," she said.

"One of the things they asked was 'What would you use the skills you learnt for?'" she said.

"I was involved in community planning at council. I was the only one under 40 concerned with the small number of younger people involved in decision-making. For me it's about how we get young people interested in the community and in leadership roles."

The program involves 17 program days over nine months, starting September 19 this year and ending on June 14, 2012.

It will include retreats in Canberra and rural Queensland as well as visits to marginal communities which in the past have included prisons, schools, public housing estates and refugee support services.

Rural and regional business, community and government leaders have until July 9 to apply for one of six $16,000 scholarships that will be available from the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation.

To find out more call Social Leadership Australia on (07) 3170 4618 or visit www.benevolent.org.au/leadership